Is there a trick to front LCA removal?

[dandragonrage]

I didn't have to take anything off other than the front wheels to do all 4 LCAs.

[BluYa76]

Just bang on it with a sledge to get it loose

That's what worked for me.

[Voice of Reason]

...this one is maybe called a Pitman arm puller... but it's the same thing. http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...questid=545272....

After reading everyone's posts I first tried jacking under the rotor to relieve the downward pressure and hitting on the LCA but it wouldn't budge. So I picked up the puller above that was mentioned and was able to get it to work. I had to remove the lower caliper bolt to get enough bite with the puller, but after that it worked.

I changed out the radius rod bushings earlier this year and when I did those it only took a few hits on the end of that ones ball joints. I figured these would be easy. I guess not!

So tomorrow I'll finish now that I've gotten the two worst ones out of the way, everything else should feel like cake now.

Thanks everyone for the advice!

[-Ray-]

I put a jack under the rotor to put some pressure and smacked the side of the spindle where the ball joint is comes right off. That's how everyone usually do it
You can hammer it all you want from the top till the cows.come home it will not move.
Point of smacking the side is it shocks it making the taper of the seat push it right out its like squeezing a McDonald's cup and the lid pops off

True statement. Mechanics have been hitting the sides for years to disrupt the taper. Old school.

[Rob@WretchedMS]

i have banned pickle forks from ever being used in any shop that i run, they are just evil.

Using the hammer method to the side of the knuckle so jar the metal is the best, easiest, safest, way to release a ball joint from a knuckle.

just be careful that you are not hitting anything else, it's a good idea to leave the nut on just a few threads so if you do miss you don't damage the threads